Honda on Tuesday revealed the price and sale date of its two-seat CR-Z gasoline-electric hybrid, a car that it hopes will be a beacon for those desiring high mileage and a sporty nature.

So let’s get right to it: The car is slated to hit dealer lots on Aug. 24, with a base price of $19,200 — or 19,950 after handling and destination charge, allowing the car to be able to claim a sub $20K price tag. That version, as well as the higher EX line, can be equipped with a six-speed manual transmission, the first such system for a hybrid, which routinely use automatics.

On the other end of the CR-Z scale is the loaded EX model with navigation and a continuously variable transmission, or CVT, with a price of $23,210 before destination and handling charges.

All models of the car are powered by a 1.5-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder engine and a thin hybrid electric motor. Peak power output for the front-wheel-drive car is rated at a 122 horsepower and 123 lb-ft or torque.

Fuel economy, meanwhile, is rated at 31 city/37 highway for the six-speed and 35/39 for the CVT.

While the CR-Z isn’t expected to be a rocket, Honda does hope to bring a”stylish, driver-focused vehicle with an emphasis on efficient performance” to the masses. And that is something that has been missing in the hybrid market, whose two popular offerings of the moment are the ubiquitous Prius, which launched in 1997, and Honda’s own, second-generation Insight, which went on sale last year.

The CR-Z is expected to straddle the line between the efficiency of the Insight (see our review) and the sportiness of the cult-favorite Honda CRX of the ’80s and ’90s.

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